BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

FIRST SEMESTER 2024-25

BITS F111: THERMODYNAMICS
Mid Semester (Open book)
Thursday, 03/10/2024
Time: 90 minutes Marks: 90
 The Question paper has two parts: Part A (30 marks) and Part B (60 Marks)
 Answer Part A in the question paper itself, in the space provided. (maximum duration 45 min)
 After submitting Part A, question paper of Part B will be given.
 Answer Part B in the answer book.
 Please highlight the answers with box

Name: ID No. Section No.

PART A
Q.1. Each question carries 6 marks
1) Air is throttled from 1000 kPa, 300 K to a pressure of 100 kPa. Assuming no change exists between the inlet
and exit velocity, determine the (a) exit temperature (b) ratio of the inlet to the exit area.
Solution:
For steady state throttling process, we have 𝑞 = 𝑤 = 0. Thus ℎ𝑖𝑛 = ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 [1M]

(a) For an ideal gas, ℎ = 𝑐𝑝 𝑇. Thus, 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑇𝑖𝑛 = 𝟐𝟕 °C [2M]

𝑃𝑉̇
(b) Mass flow rate is constant. So 𝑚̇ = 𝜌𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝑖𝑛 = 𝜌𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝐴𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 =
𝑅𝑇
𝑃𝐴𝑉
Thus, = constant [1M]
𝑅𝑇

Therefore: 𝑉𝑖𝑛 = 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 , 𝐴𝑖𝑛 /𝐴𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 /𝑃𝑖𝑛 = 100/1000 = 𝟎. 𝟏 [2M]

2) A nozzle in a steam system passes 104 kg/min. The initial and final pressures and velocities are, respectively,
2000 kPa, 7 kPa, 100 m/s, and 1000 m/s. Assuming the process is adiabatic, what is h in kJ/kg?
Solution:
Applying Steady State Energy Equation ( AssumptionsPE  0,1W2  0,1 Q2  0)  [2M ]
V12 V2
h1   h2  2
2000 2000
V 2
h  2  1 
V 2
1000 2  100 2   495 kJ                    [4M ]
2000 2000 2000 kg
3) A 2.5 kg cast iron block is heat treated and now cooled in an engine oil (2.5 kg, 8 °C). The system reaches to the
uniform temperature of 10 °C. Estimate the initial temperature of the cast iron block in (°C).
Solution:

mCI cCI T2  T1   meo ceo T1  T2                 [3M ]

2.5  0.42283.15  T1   2.5  1.9 2 ;
T1  19.04°C - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [3M]
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI
FIRST SEMESTER 2024-25
BITS F111: THERMODYNAMICS
Mid Semester (Open book)
Thursday, 03/10/2024
Time: 90 minutes Marks: 90
 The Question paper has two parts: Part A (30 marks) and Part B (60 Marks)
 Answer Part A in the question paper itself, in the space provided. (maximum duration 45 min)
 After submitting Part A, question paper of Part B will be given.
 Answer Part B in the answer book.
 Please highlight the answers with box

Name: ID No. Section No.

4) Consider the three processes (ab, bc, and cd,) sketched on the (P, v) diagram for water as given below.
Represent the same processes on the (P, T) and (T, v) diagrams.

5) An experimentalist throttled adiabatically the saturated water vapour at 270°C. After the throttling the final state
is again the saturated vapour. Neglecting the change in kinetic and potential energy of water, determine the
pressure and temperature at the exit. (Neglecting the digits after decimal in case of enthalpy)

Solution:
At 270°C; h1=hg=2789 kJ/kg (Neglecting the digits after decimal)
After throttling pressure and temperature will decrease but enthalpy will remain constant

hg2= h2=h1=2789; the values are corresponding toT1= 195°C and P2=Psat at 195°C =1397.8kPa -----------------[6M]
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI
FIRST SEMESTER 2024-25
BITS F111: THERMODYNAMICS
Mid Semester (Open book)
Thursday, 03/10/2024
Time: 90 minutes Marks: 90
 The Question paper has two parts: Part A (30 marks) and Part B (60 Marks)
 Answer Part A in the question paper itself, in the space provided. (maximum duration 45 min)
 After submitting Part A, question paper of Part B will be given.
 Answer Part B in the answer book.
 Please highlight the answers with box

Name: ID No. Section No.

PART B
Q.1. An insulated piston-cylinder assembly as shown in fig. containing 100 g
of helium at 100 kPa and 25°C. The piston is massless and loaded with a
linear spring and outside atmospheric pressure. The initial spring force is
zero and atmospheric pressure is P0 = 100 kPa at state 1. Helium is
stirred by a rotating shaft doing 1 kJ of work on helium while a current
of 8 A flows for 5 min through a resistor placed in the helium.
Simultaneously 2kJ of heat is supplied to the system from the bottom of
the cylinder (assuming no insulation at the bottom). The volume of the
helium at the state 2 is doubled. If the spring constant is 60 kN/m and
the cross-sectional area of the piston is 0.5 m2 then find
I. initial and final volume (m3)
II. final Pressure (kPa)
III. boundary work done during the process(kJ)
IV. the voltage of the source (V). [20M]
Solution:
1 Q2  We,in  Wpw, in  Wb, out  U (since KE = PE = 0)
1 Q2  We,in  Wpw,in  Wb, out  m(u 2  u1 )
1 Q2  ( VIt )  Wpw,in  Wb, out  mcv T2  T1                           [3M ]
mRT1 0.1  2.0771  298 .15
V1    0.619 m 3          [3M ]
P1 100
V2  1.239 m 3                            [2M ]

P2  P1 
Ks
V2  V1   100  60 2  0.619  248.56kPa    [3M ]
A 2
0.5
Wb ,0ut  107 .88kJ                            [3M ]
T2  1482 .67 K                            [2M ]
( VIt )  mcv T2  T1   Wpw,in  Wb, out 1 Q2
V  197 .49V                            [4 M ]
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI
FIRST SEMESTER 2024-25
BITS F111: THERMODYNAMICS
Mid Semester (Open book)
Thursday, 03/10/2024
Time: 90 minutes Marks: 90
 The Question paper has two parts: Part A (30 marks) and Part B (60 Marks)
 Answer Part A in the question paper itself, in the space provided. (maximum duration 45 min)
 After submitting Part A, question paper of Part B will be given.
 Answer Part B in the answer book.
 Please highlight the answers with box

Name: ID No. Section No.

Q.2. The figure shows a piston-cylinder assembly fitted with a

spring. The cylinder contains water, initially at 500 °C, and
the spring is in a vacuum. The piston face, which has an
area of 130 cm2, is initially at x1 = 50 cm. The water is
cooled until the piston face is at x2 = 40 cm. The force
exerted by the spring varies linearly with x according to F
spring = kx, where k = 52 kN/m. Friction between the
piston and cylinder is negligible.
For the water, determine
I. the initial and final pressures (kPa)
II. the mass of water (kg)
III. the work (kJ)
IV. the heat transfer (kJ)
V. draw P-v diagram for the process. [20M]

Solution:
kx 52  0.5
I . P1  1   2000 kPa                          [2M ]
A 130  10  4
kx 52  0.4
P2  2   1600 kPa                          [2M ]
A 130  10  4
II . at T1  500 oC and P1  2000 kPa, v1  0.17568 m 3 / kg , u1  3116 .20 kJ / kg    [2M ]
m  0.037 kg                                        [2M ]

III . Work of compressio n  P1  P2 V2  V1   2.34 kJ              [4M ]

1
2
V 5.2  10 3
v 2  v1  2  0.17568  3
 0.140544 m 3 / kg                [2M ]
V1 6.5  10
IV .1 Q2  mu 2  u1  1W2  0.037 2685 .34  3116 .20   2.34  18.28kJ      [4M ]
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI
FIRST SEMESTER 2024-25
BITS F111: THERMODYNAMICS
Mid Semester (Open book)
Thursday, 03/10/2024
Time: 90 minutes Marks: 90
 The Question paper has two parts: Part A (30 marks) and Part B (60 Marks)
 Answer Part A in the question paper itself, in the space provided. (maximum duration 45 min)
 After submitting Part A, question paper of Part B will be given.
 Answer Part B in the answer book.
 Please highlight the answers with box

Name: ID No. Section No.

[2M]

Q.3. A compressor designed to deliver an exit-to-inlet pressure ratio of 18. The compressed air from the
compressor is fed to the combustor, where 0.9 MJ/kg of heat is added. The hot air from the combustor is
then expanded in a turbine to state 4. The pressure and temperature at state 1 is 300 K and 100 kPa. The
compression and expansion process in the compressor and turbine follows 𝑃𝑣 1.4 = constant.
Assumptions:
 There are no heat losses in the compressor,
combustor, and turbine and no pressure loss in the
combustor.
 Air is an ideal gas with constant specific heat and
P1=P4.
Determine the following
I. Pressure (kPa) and Temperature (K) at the exit
of the compressor
II. Specific work in compressor (kJ/kg)
III. Temperature at the exit of the combustor (K)

IV. Temperature at the exit of the turbine (K)

V. Specific work produced by the turbine (kJ/kg)
VI. Net specific work output of the system (kJ/kg) [20M]
Solution:
(a) 𝑃2 = (18)(𝑃1 ) = (18)(100) = 𝟏𝟖𝟎𝟎 kPa [1M]
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI
FIRST SEMESTER 2024-25
BITS F111: THERMODYNAMICS
Mid Semester (Open book)
Thursday, 03/10/2024
Time: 90 minutes Marks: 90
 The Question paper has two parts: Part A (30 marks) and Part B (60 Marks)
 Answer Part A in the question paper itself, in the space provided. (maximum duration 45 min)
 After submitting Part A, question paper of Part B will be given.
 Answer Part B in the answer book.
 Please highlight the answers with box

Name: ID No. Section No.

𝑛−1
For Polytropic process 𝑇2 /𝑇1 = (𝑃2 /𝑃1 ) 𝑛 = (1800/100)0.4/1.4 = 2.2838 [1M]
𝑇2 = (300)(2.2838) = 𝟔𝟖𝟓. 𝟏𝟒 K [1M]

(b) Neglecting KE0;PE0

h1=h2+wcompressor [2M]
wcompressor=cp(T1-T2)=1.004(300.15-685.14)= -386.53kJ/kg [2M]
‘-‘ sign shows that the work is done on the system

(c) 2q3 = 𝑐𝑝 (𝑇3 − 𝑇2 ) [2M]

𝑇3 = 𝑇2 + 2q3/𝑐𝑝 [1M]
𝑇3 = 685.14 + 900/1.004 = 𝟏𝟓𝟖𝟏. 𝟓𝟓𝑲 [2M]
As there is no pressure loss in the combustor, 𝑃3 = 𝑃2 = 1800 kPa

(d) 𝑃4 = 100 kPa [1M]

𝑛−1
For Polytropic process 𝑇4 /𝑇3 = (𝑃4 /𝑃3 )𝑛 = (100/1800)0.4/1.4 = 0.4379 [1M]
𝑇4 = (0.4379)(1581.55) = 𝟔𝟗𝟐. 𝟓𝟔 K [1M]

(e) Neglecting KE0;PE0

h3=h4+wTurbine [2M]
wTurbine=cp(T3-T4)=1.004(1581.55-692.56)= 892.54 kJ/kg [2M]
‘+‘ sign shows that the work is done by the system
(f) Net specific work output of the system = 892.54-386.53=506.016 kJ/kg [1M]